Ethics of scientific work and evaluation of scientific publications Rimas Norvaiša Vilnius University, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Akademijos 4, Vilnius, Phone 2109335, E-mail: rimas.norvaisa@mii.vu.lt Submitted: August 16, 2011 Abstract. In many countries scientific institutions use metrics of scientific performance when make decisions related to allocation of research resources, salary decisions, scientific performance reviews et cetera. Such type of politics is sometimes called publish or perish culture. In the paper we point out to several works on scientometrics research showing that publish or perish culture has consequences to scientists behaviour. The changes found in this research are discussed in the context of Ethics of a scientific work. We also ask, whether the Lithuanian science policy decisions create an initiative to break Ethics of scientific work? Key words: Ethics in science, responsible conduct of research, questionable conduct of research, science policy, causes of misconduct INTRODUCTION Evaluation of scientific publication is one of the main tools of scientometrics, the science of measuring and analysing science. This type of tools is often called bibliometrics. More generally, bibliometrics means a measurement of the impact of scientific publications. Modern scientometrics is mostly based on the work of Derek J. de Solla Price 1 and Eugene Garfield. The latter founded the Institute for Scientific Information, known as ISI. Currently the institute is owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. Also the evaluation of scientific publication is used for policy decisions, like allocation of research resources, salary decisions, award nomination and so on. 1 Price, D.J. Little Science, Big Science. New York: Columbia University Press, 1963.